Door



Nov. 2l, 1.933.

J. s. MURPHY DOOR Filed Dec. 18, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Nov.2l', 1933'l John s. Murphy, Monry ramoner.

Application December 18, 1930 Serial No. 503.205

This invention' relates to door constructions, and more especially tothat type of door which is known in the trade as an all-weather door.

An object of the invention is to provide a door having a window openingin the upper portion,

thereof and a s ash so mounted therein that the sash may optionally bepositioned within the opening as a closure'therefor or lowered into apocket which is provided between spaced panels in the lower portion ofthe door.

Another object is to provide constructional refinements in a door of thegeneral class described, of such a nature that the over-all thickness ofthe door needbe no greater than that of the conventional door whereinthe sashisrigidlymounted or hinged.

Another object is to provide, as a'modied form of my invention, a doorhaving the above characteristics, and which is provided with a. screenwhich also may be caused to disappear into the pocket in the lowerportion of the door, or raised therefrom so as to extend across theopening in the upper portion of the door. v

A further object is to provide guiding strips constructed according tonovel design, these strips being capable not only of holding the sashand screen frames against movement out of their respective planes ofadjustment, but also being capable of operating as inside abutments forthe panels holding them in properly spaced relationship, so as to definethe pocket into which the sash and door screen may be caused todisappear.Y

This is one of the features of my invention which results in avoidingthe necessity of increasing the thickness of the door.

Another object is to provide spring means continually exerting apressure against the slidable frames, whereby rattling thereof isprevented, and a tight seal is established, especially between the sashframe and the guiding strip within which it is mounted.

A still further object is to provide abutment means for the inner faceof each of the panels along its upper edge, this abutment means being inthe form of a metal strip of Z-shaped cross section. which is soarranged within the door that itserves also to prevent the liability ofmoisture leaking downwards through the slot which is provided in thelock rail, and thence vinto contact with the upper edge of theassociated panel.

A still further object is to provide means for releasably retaining thesash frame and the screen frame in selected position with respect to theremainder of the door, and independently of each other.

Another object is to arrange the retaining meansfor the sash in such away that it can be lreleased from only the inside of the door, thusmaking it impossible for `a person outside the door to remove the sashand unlock the door by 00 reaching through the window opening.

The invention possesses other objects and advantageous features, some ofwhich, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the invention's particular embodiments which are`illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of thespecification.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a'view in side elevation of a door con- 70 structed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention. In thismodification the sash alone is slidably adjustable, the screen framebeing preferably permanently mounted in such position that its screenextends across the window opening. Portions of the figure are brokenaway to reduce its size.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view, the plane of sectionbeing taken upon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, with the direction of View asin- 80 dicated. Portions of this figure also are broken away to reduceits size.

Fig. 3 is a gure similar to Fig. 2, but showing a slightly modified formof door wherein both the sash frame and the screen frame are capable ofbeing caused to disappear by sliding downwards into a pocket in thelower portion of the door.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal transverse sectional view, the plane of sectionbeing taken upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, with the direction of view asindicated.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but taken upon the line 5-5 of Fig.2, with the direction of view as indicated. 9

The door of my invention is of the so-called al1-weather type, inasmuchas it is provided withea glass sash so associated with a window openingin the door that the sash may optionally be employed as a closure forthe opening or removed therefrom bysliding downwards into a pocket inthelower portion of the door. The window opening is provided with asuitable screen, so that when the sash is removed in this manner fromthe window opening the door serves the function of the ordinaryscreendoor. Thus, it may be seen that a single door, when constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention, may be employedin the stead of two doors, namely an ordinary door and a screen door.The constructional details of the door of the present invention are suchthat although the sash frame and/or the screen frame may be caused todisappear into a pocket within the door itself, the over-all thicknessof the door is not increased over that of the conventional doorspreviously employed under the same circumstances.

One embodiment of the door of Amy invention is illustrated upon Figs. l,2 and 5. In this door the sash frame alone is vertically adjustable, thescreen frame being either permanently mounted within the window openingor hinged or otherwise secured therein but not being capable of beingcaused to disappear into the door itself.

This door comprises spaced vertical stiles 6 and 7, top and bottom rails8 and 9 joining the upper and lower ends thereof, respectively, anda'center or lock rail 11 intermediate the top and bottom rails 8 and 9,and extending between the stiles 6 and 7. This construction is purelyconventional, inasmuch as it is the manner inwhich most panel doors areconstructed. The lock rail 1l divides the space defined by the top andbottom rails and stiles into upper and lower openings 12 and 13,respectively. Whereas the upper opening 12 serves as a window openingwithin the door, the lower opening 13 is closed by a pair of panels 14and 16 disposed in spaced parallel relationship, so as to present apocket 17 therebetween in the lower portion of the door. This pocket 17communicates with the upper opening 12 through a slot 18 which extendsvertically through the lock rail l1, the length of this slot 18 being atleast as great as the width of the pocket 17, measured in a directionparallel with the faces of the door.

A sash, indicated in its entirety at 21, and comprising one or morepanes 22 of glass or its equivalent suitably mounted within a sash frame23, preferably of metal, is slidably mounted between the stiles 6 and 7,and is adapted optionally to be moved into the upper opening 12 as aclosure therefor or to be caused to disappear into vthe pocket 17 in thelower portion of the door, thereby leaving the window opening 12 fullyopened for the free passage of air therethrough.

The sash 21 is guided within a pair of opposed channel-shaped strips 24,each of which is secured to the inner edge of one of the Stiles 6, 7,and extends from the lower edge of the upper rail 8 to the upper edge ofthe lower rail 9. Each of these channel-shaped strips comprises a bottom26 and inner and outer side flanges 27 and 28 respectively, extendingperpendicularly from the bottom 26. Whereas the outer side flange 28extends all the way to the lower edge of the upper rail 8, the innerside flange 27 terminates substantially in alinement with the upper edgeof the lock rail 11, as best illustrated upon Fig. 2. The purpose ofthis is to permit insertion and removal of the sash 21, as will readilybe understood. After insertion of the sash 21 its inadvertentdisplacement from the channels 24 is prevented by means of top, bottomand side moldings 31, 32 and 33, respectively, removably secured to thetop rail 8, lock rail 11 and stiles 6 and 7, respectively. Any suitablemeans of attachment may be employed, such, for example, as nails orbrads 34. Inasmuch as these moldings 31 to 33 inclusive are readilyremovable, removal and replacement of the sash 21 may very easily beeffected.

In order to prevent rattling of the sash 2l, and to establish a tightseal between the sash and the outer flanges 28 of the channels 24, Ihave provided a plurality of leaf springs 36 secured at spaced intervalsalong the vertical moldings 33 on those faces thereof which are proximalto the sash 21. These springs operate to press the sash firmly intoengagement with the opposite sides of the channels 24, aswill readily beunderstood. Obviously, the sash 21 is of such dimensions that when it ismoved into registry with the window opening 12 the upper edge 37 of thesash 21 will seat within a groove 38 formed within the lower edge of theupper rail 8 for the reception thereof, which groove, however, is notdeep enough to permit withdrawing the lower edge 39 of the sash 21 fromthe slot 18 in the lock rail 11. The parts are so proportioned andarranged that the outer edges of the groove 38 and the slot 18 are inalinement with the inner faces of the outer flanges 28 of the channels24, with the result that the sash 21 will make contact with some portionof the door throughout its entire periphery, so as to establish a tightseal therewith when the sash is moved to closing position. This permitsmaking the channels 24, within which the sash 21 is slidable, wideenough to prevent binding between them and the sash, and allows forswelling of the parts when affected by moisture, However, when the sashframe 23 is constructed of metal, the sash itself is not subject toswelling.

I also employ a plurality of springs 41 between an edge of the sash 2land the bottom 26 of the associated channel 24, these springs 41 servingto press the sash 21 against the bottom 26 of the opposite channel 24,as best illustrated upon Fig. 5.

The sash is provided with a spring balance 42, preferably ofconventional design and having a spring-wound tape or cord 43 secured atone end to an edge of the sash 21, whereby the weight of the sash 21 iscounterbalanced to assist in retaining the sash wherever positioned.However, I have found it also desirable to provide a ratch 44 in theform of a plurality of saw-shaped teeth 46 along one edge of the sash21, preferably that edge thereof opposite the spring balance 42. Aspring bolt 47, also preferably of conventional design, is mortised intothe associated stile 6, and cooperates with the teeth 46 of the ratch44, thereby serving as a ratchet to releasably retain the sash 12 inselected degree of vertical adjustment. The handle 4 8, whereby theratchet bolt 47 may be retracted, extends through the inner face of theassociated stile 6 so as to be operable from the inside of the dooronly. This is a feature of no small importance, for the reason thatthere has not been produced previously any door of this general typewhich could not be opened easily from the outside. For example, mostdoors of this type can easily be opened by cutting the screen, liftingthe sash so as to on the rails and stiles and held thereagainst by -V- aplurality of metal clips 54 pivotally mounted upon the frame 52 by pins56. These clips are preferably L-shaped, so that they are urged bygravity into that position in which one leg 57 is swung into a notch 55in the associated rail or stile, as the case might be, and thus hold thescreen frame 5A against inadvertent dispiacemen The provision of thepocket 17 in the lower portion of the door for the reception-of the sash21 presents a problem in mounting the panels 14 and 16, because of thefact that the thickness of the door is limited by commercialrequirements. However, I have beenenabled to overcome this difllcultytosuch an extent that a door constructed as hereinabove described need beof no greater thickness than one and threeeighths (1%) inches, thisbeing a standard thickness for doors in common use. I have accomplishedthis by providing novel interior abutment means for the panels 14 andy16, whereby the panels are' retained in properly spaced relationship,so as to denne the pocket 17. The side flanges 27 and 28 of each of thechannels 24 engage the inner faces ot the panels 14 and 16 along theirvertical edges, and thus serve as internal abutment means forthese edgesof the panels. As abutment means for the upper edge of each of thepanels I have provided a metal strip 61, which is z-shaped in crosssection, as best illustrated upon Fig. 2. One flange 62 of each strip 61is rabbeted into the lower edge oi' the lock rail 11 in such positionthat it is spaced at a material distance from the plane of the proximaledge of the slot 18 through the lock rail.

Y 'I'he central portion 63' of the strip 61 extends horizontally inwardsfrom the lower edge of the flange 62 across the upper edge of theassociated panel 14, 16, so as to position the other side flange 64 ofthe strip 61 in the plane oi' the associated side flanges 27 or 28, asthe case might be, of the channel strips 24, this side flange being cutaway, as indicated at 65, to receive the end of the flange 64. Hence,the horizontally extending side ilanges 64of the Z-shaped strips 61serve as internal abutment means for the upper edges of the panels 14and 16. The Z strips serve another function, however, inasmuch as theyprevent the possibility of any moisture which runs down through the slot18 of thelock rail 11 from coming into contact with the upper edges ofthe panels 14 and 16, this being a matter. of considerable importance,inasmuch as these panels are frequently constructed of multi-plymaterial, the several plies being secured together by glue` which wouldbe dissolved in the presence of moisture. Inasmuch as each of the strips61 extends across the upper edge and downwards in engagement'with theinner face of one of the panels, any moisture running down through theslot 18 cannot come into contact with the panels until it has passed theextreme upper edges thereof. The abutment means for the lower edges ofthe panels 14 and 16 is a bead 66 formed on the upper edge of the bottomrail 9. Cooperative with these internal abutment means are stop moldings67 secured to the inner edges of the stiles 6 and 7, the lower edge ofthe lock rail 11, and the upper edge oi' the bottom rail 9, and abuttingthe outer facesof the panels 14 and 16, so as to hold them securelyagainst the flanges 27 andv 28 of the channels, the flanges 64 of the z,strips 61, and the bead 66. Brads 68 or equivalent fastening means areemployed to secure the stop moldings 67 in place, thereby permittingremoval of the moldings for the purpose of replacing either or both ofthe panels 14 and 16 whenever desired. It should be observed, however,that the moldings 67, as well as the moldings 33, are disposed entirelyinsidethe limiting planes of the door, i. e., the planes of the innerand outer faces of the rails and stiles. This is a matter ofconsiderable importancefoecause of the fact that it permits stacking andcrating the doors with onesuperimposed upon another, 'without dangerloi! damaging them, as would be the case if there were any projectingportions on either door apt to penetrate or otherwise mar the exteriorsurface of the adjacent door. This feature is made possible by means ofthe internal abutment means hereinabove described for the panels 14 and16, as well as by the fact that metal sash 21 is employed,

'it being understood that a metal sash is materially thinner than one inwhich the sash frame is constructed of wood.

Another advantage in 'connection with having the stop moldings 67disposed completely inside the bounding planes of the door is thatisavoids the danger of their entrapping water flowing down thesidescfthe lock rail l1 for conducting the water inwards into engagementwith the upper edges of the panels 14 and 16,y as would be the case ifthey, projected outwards beyond the external faces'of the lock'rail 1l.Provision is made for theescape of. liquid entrapped within the pocket17 by flowing downwards thereinto through the slot 18 in the lock rail11. A pluralityvof weep holes 71 extends vertically through the bottomrail 9 from the bottom of the pocket 17, as clearly illustrated inbroken lines upon In the modiflcaiton of the door` of my invention whichis illustrated upon Figs. 3 and 4, both the sash 76 and the screen 77are slidably mounted so as to permit themto be caused to disappear intothe pocket 78 which ^is provided between the panels 79 and 81 whichclose the space 82 in the lower portions of the door. Whereas the pocket78 in this modification must be wide enough to accommodate both the sash76 and the screen 77. thereby necessitating a wider pocket than thepocket 17 provided in the previously described modification, it ispossible, by employing the internal stop means of my invention for thepanels 79 and 81, to construct the door so that it is no thicker thanthe conventional one and threequarters (1%) inch door.

As in the previously described modification, the internal stop means forthe panels 79 and 8l are the side flanges 83 and 84 of channel-shapedguides 86, which in this modification, however,

are double channels instead of single channels. Hence, each oi' thelstrips forming thechannels 86 is substantially W-shaped in crosssection, each having an intermediate flange 87 midway between the sideflanges 83 vand 84. These intermediate flanges 87 of the two oppositedouble channels 86 serve to keep the sash 76 and the screen 77separated, thereby permitting facile adjustment of one without affectingthe other. Z-shapedl strips g 88 similar to those described in commotionwith the first modification are employed as stop means for the upperedges of the clearly illustrated upon Fig. 3; and the external panels 79and 81, as i stop means also are in the form of Ystop moldings 89,removably secured or their equivalent.

Both side flanges 83 and 84 of the double channel 86 terminatesubstantially in alinement with the upper` edge of the lock rail 92,inadvertent in place by brads 91 of the vertical stop moldings 93 inposition to en- 4 gage the proximal faces of the sash 76 and screen 77and press them against the intermediate flange 87 of the channel 86, andthereby prevent rattling. In this modification I also prefer to employthe leaf springs 97 interposed between an edge of each of the sash 76and screen 7.7' and the bottom of the associated channel, so as tocontinually press the frames of the sash and screen against the bottomof the opposed channel.

I have also provided in this modication a ratch 101 on a vertical edgeof the sash 76, and a ratch 102 on the distal vertical edge of thescreen 77, and with these ratches 101 and 102 mortised spring bolts 103and 104, respectively, cooperate, serving as ratchets whereby the sash76 and screen 77, respectively, may be releasably retained in selecteddegree of vertical adjustment.

The handles 106 and 107, whereby the ratchet bolts 103 and 104,respectively, may be manually withdrawn, both extend through the innerface of the door, but through different stiles 108 and 109,respectively, as clearly illustrated upon Fig. 4. The sash frame 76 andthe screen frame 77 are each preferably provided with a spring balance111, 112, respectively, to assist in vertical adjustment thereof and inreleasably retaining each frame in selected degree of verticaladjustment. e

Thus, it may be seen that I haveprovided a single door which is capableof taking the place of two conventional doors, one of which carries aglass pane and the other of which is a screen door. When it is desiredto effectually close the room to which the door of my invention leads,the glass pane 21 or 76, as the case might be, is moved to that positionin which it closes the window opening of the door. However, when it isdesired to ventilate the room, the sash 21 or 76 may be lowered into thepocket 17 or 78, either` partially or` completely, depending upon thedegree of ventilation required. However, this removal of the sash fromthe window opening will not permit entrance of insects and the like tothe room, because of the presence of the screen, which, however, may beremoved if desired, by sliding it downwards into the pocket 78 in thecase of the last described modification, or completely removed from thedoor in the case of the first described modication. Moreover, on accountof the details of construction hereinabove described as a portion of myinvention, my improved door is capable of presenting these advantages,although it need not be any thicker than the conventional door nowmanufactured, and not capable of serving the double function of apaneled and a screen door.

It is to be 'understood that the details of the invention as hereindisclosed, are subject to alteration within the spirit or scope of theappended claims.

I claim: n

1. In a closure construction, a frame comprising spaced stiles, top andbottom rails and a center rail dividing the space defined by said railsand stiles. into upper and lower openings, a pair of panels closing saidlower opening and spaced to define a pocket therebetween, said centerrail having a slot therethrough from said pocket into said upperopening, a sash slidably mounted between said stiles and adapted to bemoved optionally into said pocket or into said upper opening as aclosure therefor, and stop means for each of said panels comprising aanged strip substantially Z-shaped in cross section, one flange of eachof said strips being rabbeted into said frame and spaced from the planeof said slot, and the other flangel lying substantially flush with theproximal edge of said slot and engaging the inner face of the associatedpanel. 1

2. In a closure construction, a frame comprising spaced stiles, topand/bottom rails and a center rail dividing the space defined by saidrails and stiles into upper and lower openings, a pair of panels closingsaid lower opening and spaced to define a pocket therebetween, saidcenter rail having a slot therethrough from said pocket into said upper'opening, a sash and a screen, each being slidably mounted between saidstiles and adapted to be moved independently of the other and optionallyinto said pocket or said upper opening, and stop means for each of saidpanels comprising a flanged strip substantially Z-shaped in crosssection, one ilange of each of said strips beings rabbeted into saidframe and spaced from the plane of said slot, and the other flange lyingsubstantially ush with the proximal edge of said slot and engaging theinner face of the associated panel.

3. In a closure construction, a. frame comprising spaced stiles, top andbottom rails and a center rail dividing thespace deilned by said railsand stiles into upper and lower openings, a pair of panels closing saidlower opening and spaced to denne a pocket therebetween, said centerrail having a slot therethrough from said pocket into said upperopening, a sash and a screen, each being slidably mounted between saidstiles and adapted to be moved independently of the other and optionallyinto said pocket or said upper opening, internal stop means for each oi'said panels comprising a flanged strip substantially Z- shaped in crosssection, one flange of each of said strips being rabbeted into saidframe and spaced from the plane of said slot, and the other flange lyingsubstantially flush with the proximal edge of said slot and engaging theinner face of the associated panel; and external stop means for each ofsaid panels comprising a molding secured to each of said stiles, bottomrail and center rail and lying entirely inside the planes of the outerfaces thereof.

4. A door comprising spaced stiles, top and bottom rails and a lock raildividing the space deiined by said rails and stiles into upper and loweropenings, a pair of panels closing said lower opening and spaced todeiine a pocket therebetween, said lock rail having a slot therethroughfrom said pocket into said upper opening, a sash slidably mountedbetween said Stiles and adapted to be moved optionally into said pocketor into said upper opening as a closure therefor, and guiding means forsaid sash comprising a channel-shaped metal strip extending along theinner edge of each of said stlles with an edge of said sash slidablydisposed therein, the side anges of said channel-shaped strips engagingthe inner faces of said panels along the vertical edges thereof to serveas inner abutments therefor.

5. A door comprising spaced stiles, top and bottom rails and a lock raildividing the space dened by said rails and stiles into upper and loweropenings, a pair of panels closing said lower opening and spaced todefine a pocket therebetween, said lock rail having a slot therethroughfrom said pocket into said upper opening, 'a sash frame and a screenframe, each slidably mounted between said stiles and adapted to be movedindependently of the other and optionally into said pocket or said upperopening, and guiding means for said frames comprising a doublechannelshaped metal strip extending along the inner edge of each of saidstiles, each vertical edge of each frame being slidably disposed withinone of the channels of one of said strips, a side flange of each of saidchannel-shaped strips engaging the inner face of one of said panelsalong a verticalv edge thereof to serve as an inner abutment therefor.

6. A door comprising spaced stiles, top and bottom rails and a lock raildividing the space defined by said rails and stiles into upper and loweropenings, a pair of panels closing said lower opening and spaced to denea pocket therebetween, said lock rail having a slot therethrough fromsaid pocket into said upper opening, a sash slidably mounted betweensaid stiles and adapted to be moved optionally into said pocket or intosaid upper opening as a closure therefor, guiding means for said sashcomprising a channel-shaped metal strip extending along the inner edgeof each of said stiles with an edge of said sash slidably disposedtherein, the side anges of said channelfshaped strips engaging the innerfaces of said panels along the vertical edges thereof to serve as innerabutments therefor, and moldings secured to said stiles. bottom rail andlock rail and engaging the outer faces of said panels to serve as outerabutments therefor, said moldings lying entirely between the planes ofthe outer faces of said rails and stiles.

7. A door comprising spaced stiles, top and bottom rails and a lock raildividing the space dened by said rails and stiles into upper and loweropenings, a pair of panels closing said lower opening and spaced to denea pocket therebetween, said lock rail having a slot therethrough fromsaid pocket into said upper opening, a sash frame and a screen frame,each slidably mounted between said stiles and adapted to be movedindependently of the other and optionally into said pocket or said upperopening, guiding means for said frames comprising a doublechannel-shaped metal strip extending along the inner edge of each ofsaid stiles, each vertical edge of each frame being slidably disposedwithin one of the channels of one of said strips, a side flange of eachof said channel-shaped strips engaging the inner face of one of saidpanels along a vertical edge thereof to serve as an inner abutmenttherefor, and moldings secured to said stiles, bottom rail and lock railand engaging the outer faces of said panels to serve as outer abutmentstherefor, said moldings lying entirely between the planes of the outerfaces of said rails and stiles.

J Om S. MURPHY.

